Weekly Overview - Aug.29-Sept.2

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ROOM 14...AUGUST 29-SEPT. 2

Dear Parents:

Thank you so much for sending in wish list items. I really appreciate the support. One thing that I would like to stress again is for you to read this overview carefully each week and to make sure that you check all of your child’s homework each night. It is also expected that you will go over the homework directions with your child before s/he begins the assignment. Thank you for following through with this critical support for your first grader.

Another thing I would like to remind you is that volunteer forms and TB test verifications are due for any parents who plan on volunteering for school activities.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Printing:  We have finished reviewing all the correct formation for all of the letters. Please watch to see that your child is using correct letter formation at home on homework. We will be reviewing some of the trickier letters this week (a, b, d, g, p, q) as well as working on our vowel code.

Reading: We will review the short vowel sounds for o and u. We will learn the long sounds for the vowels i, o and u.  We will practice reading long and short vowel words (using vowel marking) in isolation. There will be a vowel quiz on Friday for short and long a-o.

Spelling:  In class we will be working on auditory discrimination of rhyming words. This week we begin our formal spelling program. On Monday we will work together in class to learn the LOOK-SAY-COVER-REMEMBER-WRITE-CHECK method.  Please make sure that your child uses this method to do his/her spelling homework. PLEASE KEEP THIS OVERVIEW SO THAT YOUR CHILD HAS THE WORD LIST TO BE USED FOR HOMEWORK. 

*Mon.-Use the study method to write words 1-5 four times each

*Tues.-Use the study method to write words 6-10 four times each

*Wed.-Practice test - missed words are written 4 times each for homework

*Thurs. HW- spelling review page

*Fri.-final test - graded for spelling and rubric-assessed for handwriting

1.  map      2.  plan      3.  ten      4.  wet      5.  six

6.  did        7.  stop       8.  frog    9.  yes       10.  in

MATH: We are starting our Topic 2- comparing numbers. We will be comparing individual numbers and using the vocabulary “greater than”, “less than” and “equal”. The children will also learn to use the <, > and = symbols. There will be a quiz on Friday.

SOCIAL STUDIES: We are beginning our unit on People and Places. The focus question for this week’s lesson is “How can we use maps and globes?”. The following vocabulary words will be used and discussed: map, globe, ocean, state, continent.

SCIENCE: Our first lab is this Thursday at 10:15! We will be exploring some aspect of plants. Science parents who are scheduled to come, PLEASE go over the lab that I will send home with your child on Wednesday so that you know your responsibilities AND make sure that your paperwork for volunteering has been turned in to the office prior to Thursday’s lab.

COMPUTER LAB: Thursdays at 11:15 – A helper schedule will come home soon.

LIBRARY: Our library day is Wednesday. Students check out 2 books. They are allowed to take one book home at a time. Please make sure that your child brings his/her library book back to school on Tuesdays. If everyone brings back their books, we get 10 marbles in our marble treat jar!!

**********************SPECIAL NOTES************************

Take-Home book envelopes will be going home near the end of this week. Please read the procedure letter inside the envelope carefully and make sure that you initial my checkout date when your child has completed the responsibilities of the Take-Home books. Send the envelope back as often as you can, but AT LEAST once a week. Remember book levels will be adjusted over time. Thank you for your patience.

Your child benefits when you join the PTA!! Please let me know if you need a new membership envelope. We still need many parents to join! I learned that if you are not a PTA member, you are not allowed to work at PTA functions to get your volunteer hours- another great reason to join (not to mention that it funds activities for your child)

Our donation fund-raiser begins soon (an envelope and information will be coming home).  $100 per student will enable us to continue to provide special educational activities and resources such as field trips and assemblies.  Any help is greatly appreciated!

Our first progress report will go home this week- please read, sign and return.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Pierce